SEC

This is the second letter BDA has sent to the SEC in the last couple of months opposing any kind of relief for muni advisors involved in private placements.

Some say a case announced yesterday echoed one last year where traders allegedly lied to get priority in their orders for newly-issued bonds.

Thomas Muldoon should properly have placed his orders as dealer stock orders, the SEC found, but instead asked representatives to submit them as retail orders.

“A highly sophisticated frequent issuer may not need the same disclosures as a less sophisticated infrequent issuer,” the trade association for underwriters told the SEC.

The group sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission this week asking for fair dealing rule guidance to be better tailored to 529 savings plans.

“Reporting unauthorized transactions is certainly a good first step in building cooperation,” said one lawyer. “But there could be a lot more to it.”

The MSRB wants to work with other regulatory groups to decrease confusion surrounding suitability rules in conjunction with the SEC's new Regulation Best Interest.

Issuers and non-dealer muni advisors support the existing prohibition, while dealers asked the MSRB to provide some flexibility.

In Schwartz, MSRB loses an experienced lawyer, respected by his peers, as it faces a future without its longtime leader.

Her announcement comes at a time of scrutiny from lawmakers and the SEC.